American Legion pays tribute to Pearl Harbor Day

Veterans and members of the American Legion and Sons of the American Legion gathered with their families at the Walter Johnson American Legion Post 721 in Coralville for a color guard memorial service to recognize Pearl Harbor day on Sunday, Dec. 7.(Photo: Andy Davis/Iowa City Press-Citizen)Buy Photo

A firing squad presented arms early Sunday morning for a color guard memorial service at the Walter Johnson American Legion Post 721 in Coralville to recognize Pearl Harbor Day.

Japan attacked America at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii 73 years ago on Sunday, Dec. 7, which sent the United States into the fray of World War II. Commander of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 721 Rex Brandstatter said it was a quiet Sunday morning, and that the young men stationed at the harbor — many of whom were only 18 or 19-years-old — were still raising flags for the morning's ceremonies.

"This is one of the most important days in the world; it's a day of infamy," said Roy Conklin, commander of Post 721, who joined the U.S. Navy in 1965 and served three tours in Vietnam. "We did this to honor all the veterans who survived or died in WWII, and those who went on to fight in other wars and survived or died. America lost a lot of brothers, relatives, friends and other family members that fought in WWII."

Veterans and members of the American Legion and Sons of the American Legion gathered with their families at Post 721 for the ceremony and a pancake and egg breakfast. Brandstatter, whose father served in World War II, said in his speech during the memorial that this is not a pleasant anniversary to recall, but that it is an important memorial.

"This is a wonderful tribute to pay those who paid the ultimate price," Brandstatter said. "We thought it was a good time to get the public out for the remembrance at 8 o'clock, around the time the attacks happened 73 years ago, and then let people warm up and socialize at breakfast."

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Speakers during the ceremony included Commander of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 721 Rex Brandstatter, left, 1st District Commander for the Department of Iowa American Legion Alvin Miller, center, and Commander of the American Legion Post 721 Roy Conklin, right.(Photo: Andy Davis/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Alvin Miller, 1st District Commander for the Department of Iowa American Legion, said he appreciates the support the American Legion receives from organizations such as Sons of the American Legion, the Ladies Auxiliary, and from the families of all veterans.

"Pearl Harbor plays a very important part in American history. It catapulted America and the American economy into World War II," Miller said. "This memorial is about keeping the memory of what happened in the forefront of everyone's mind so that we may not forget."

Miller and his department serve 11 counties in southeast Iowa, he said, which includes 52 posts and totals more than 4,000 members.

Dale Miller, 86, of Coralville was a corporal in the 34th Infantry Division and served for 18 months in the war. He was part of the occupation forces in Japan.

"I was still in high school in Roland when Pearl Harbor happened. Four of my friends and I spent the summer at home and then enlisted together," Dale Miller said. "This memorial reminds me of what happened and what a tragedy it was, and I feel sorry for those who were trapped down below and killed that day."

Conklin said there will another ceremony at the post next year, and that there will be a community-wide memorial service in 2016 for the 75th anniversary.

"We're going to try to bring the Marine Corps lead, state officials and American Legion officials together for a big ceremony at the Marriott Hotel," Conklin said.